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The electron transport system of Alcaligenes eutrophus H16

I. Spectroscopic and thermodynamic properties

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Abstract

The electron transport system of autotrophically grown Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 has been investigated by spectroscopic and thermodynamic approaches. The results have been interpreted as evidence that isolated membranes contain a branched respiratory chain composed of three c-type haems (E m,7=+160 mV, + 170 mV, and + 335 mV), five b-type haems (E m,7=+ 5 mV, + 75 mV, + 205 mV, + 300 mV, and + 405 mV), two (possibly three) a-type haems [E m,7= + 255 mV, + 350 mV, (+ 420 mV)], and nne d-type haem. EPR-analysis of the signals at g=1.93, g=2.02, and g=1.90 revealed the presence of iron-sulphur centres diagnostic of complexes I (NADH dehydrogenase), II (succinate dehydrogenase), and III (ubiquinol/cytochrome c oxidoreductase). The low potential b haems (+ 5 mV and + 75 mV) plus the Rieske protein (g=1.90, E m,7=+ 280 mV), thought to be part of an orthodox bc 1 complex, were present in low amounts as compared to their counterparts in membranes from Paracoccus denitrificans.

CO-difference spectra in the presence of either succinate, NADH, hydrogen, ascorbate/TMPD, and/or dithionite as reductants, suggested the existance of four different oxidases composed by bo-, cb-, a-, and d-type haems.

It is concluded that in contrast to other chemolithotrophes, e.g. P. denitrificans, autotrophic growth of Alcaligenes eutrophus utilizes a respiratory system in which the bc 1 complex containing pathway is only partially involved in electron transport.

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Abbreviations

Cytochrome c-551, number:

wavelength in nm

Cytochrome c 270, number:

mid-point potential in mV

E m,7 :

mid-point potential of an oxidation-reduction couple at pH 7.0

KP:

buffer, potassium phosphate-buffer

OD:

optical density at 436 nm, 1 cm light path

TMPD:

N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Mikrobiologie der Georg-August0Universität, Grisebachstrasse 8, W-3400, Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany

    Ralf Kömen & Karin Schmidt

  2. Department of Biology, University of Bologna, I-40126, Bologna, Italy

    Davide Zannoni

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, St. Andrews Univesity, St. Andrews, UK

    W. John Ingledew

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  1. Ralf Kömen
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  2. Davide Zannoni
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  3. W. John Ingledew
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  4. Karin Schmidt
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Kömen, R., Zannoni, D., Ingledew, W.J. et al. The electron transport system of Alcaligenes eutrophus H16. Arch. Microbiol. 155, 382–390 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00243459

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